Keeping in in bad weather

[Tiddlypom]

But what qualifies for dangerous conditions? There is a hard sub text on this thread of inferring that many people could turn their horses out in bad weather if only they pulled their fingers out, weren’t so precious, and tried a bit harder. Clear a track etc.

Horses can and do break legs on frozen rutted ground, and if someone elects to protect their horse from that risk until the ground thaws they are being told off for thinking of themselves first and of not allowing a horse to be a horse.

I stick by my assertion that my all horses (current and past, inc the RSPCA fosters) love being in their stables. My current two would be very happy to come in every night and to be turned out all day, the stables are their safe space for to a complete chill and a snooze. If other people’s horses hate being stabled even for part of the day, then I know not why .

Any horse should be comfortable to be stabled for at least a few hours in case of accident, sickness, injury or emergency. Set them up to succeed by making their stables welcoming if need be, even if they live out for most of the time. Apart from a few outliers, and there will always be those with history who hate being stabled, it can usually be done.

I absolutely don’t condone horses being stabled for weeks or months at a time for no good reason. I don’t count overstocking as a good reason.

 

[teapot]

I think there's a discussion to be had over whether people have got 'softer' when it comes to weather, duvet days, and I include that in what's better for the human over what's better for the horse in that (ie someone choosing not to deal with soggy rugs and slippy mud because they can't be bothered, over their horse getting a leg stretch for example). You only have to see the instagram versus reality videos on social media to know people like showing off their pristine horse rugged to its eyeballs in a box...


I was working at a yard with 50+ horses out 24/7 regardless of weather, with decent tracks straight onto the standard concrete of the yard. During the winters, there were ample stacks of grit around the place, and in my time there (and knowing the yard before and after) they've never lost a horse due to frozen ground injuries, and they were out in big herds too. On the rare occasion something needed to be box-rested (and it was rare, maybe we were lucky with herd dynamics and general health), most settled quickly to a significant change in their way of living. The only one I know of that didn't was a quirky older chap who despite the vet knowing this, advised box rest, and he jumped out the first night... Did the rest of his rehab in the field!

 

[pistolpete]

Just to add some horses who have been habitualised to stables can still be deeply distressed by it. My highland would colic if kept in. He’s at grass livery now so ideal for him my older horse hated his stable. Box walked and would run to the back. Never completely happy. They are all different. I am always so grateful that I’m eleven years I never had to box rest Pete.

 

[Miss_Millie]

This thread has got me curious how many hours of daily stabling people think is acceptable if a horse must be stabled daily? Not judging as I know a lot of people are on livery stuck in difficult situations beyond their control, but say if the horses are 'stabled overnight', how many hours do people think is ethically acceptable to keep a horse in such a small space for?

 

[pistolpete]

This thread has got me curious how many hours of daily stabling people think is acceptable if a horse must be stabled daily? Not judging as I know a lot of people are on livery stuck in difficult situations beyond their control, but say if the horses are 'stabled overnight', how many hours do people think is ethically acceptable to keep a horse in such a small space for?

Maybe a subject for a new thread? I don’t think it’s ethical keeping them in at all but I’ve just outed myself as a pony patter! I would only keep in if they were unwell or there was zero turnout due to floods etc. shelter yes.